What's a Healthy Hoof and a Unhealthy Hoof?

Horse Standing

A horse should stand square with its cannon bone hanging straight down. If this is not happening like the picture on the right, the horses natural stay apparatus cannot function and the horse will require muscle energy to stand. Problems with the horse's body can occure. What is a stay apparatus?The stay apparatus is a system of bones, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and muscles that work in balance with one another to allow the horse to stand with no muscle action. That is why the horse can stay standing while it is asleep.

standing before

Standing Now

The Front Hoof

The toe angle of the front hooves should be about 45-50°. The coronet angle should be 30° to the ground and the toe/coronet angle should be about 105°. The hairline seen from the front should be parallell to the ground . Heel height should be about 3 - 4cm from the hairline of the bulbs. The front hooves hold about 60 - 80% of the horse's weight, and the hoof is more round and flatter in concavity than the hind hoof. Concavity should be about 1cm deep at the apex of the frog.

before

after

The Hind Hoof

The Toe angle should be about 50 - 55°. Coronet 30°and the/coronet angle about 95°. Hairline in the front should be straight. The hind hoof is for impulsion therefore the hoof is a bit more triangular and has more concavity than the front hoof. Concavity should be about 2 - 2.5cm deep at the apex of the frog. The hind hoof is not entirely symmetrical, the lateral (outside) quarter is slightly wider and shallower and the medial (inside) quarter is slightly straighter. This should not be extreme.

before

after

The Coffin Bone

The coffin bone is the bone that sits inside the hoof. The placement of the coffin bone inside the hoof is vital, as this affects the whole limb.The angle of the coffin bone should be between 0 - 5 degrees from the ground plane. (Ground parallel been optimal) The higher the coffin bone is raised off the ground parallel, the higher the effects on the distal (front) edge of the coffin bone.Which are detrimental to the laminar connection between the coffin bone and hoof capsule. The coffin bone of any healthy front hoof has a toe angle of 45°, and the hind coffin bone angle is 55°.

The bottom of the hoof

The bulbs and the last third of the frog should be the first part of the hoof that contacts the ground. Heels should be broad and smooth, the frog as wide as possible. Bars should end at the midpoint of the frog. The sole should be smooth and vaulted. Also the "moon sickle" is the only part of the sole that should be weight bearing.

Shoe just pulled

Untrimmed barefoot hoof

Trimmed hoof

Different Breads

Depending on the breed, the lateral walls diverge a lot - in Warmbloods, Friesians, Draft horses or they diverge less - in hard hoofed horses like Quarter Horses, Andalusians and Arabians etc

Pony Hoof

Warmblood hoof

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